Clinometer.



M. CLARKE.

GLINOMETBR. APrLIoATIoN FILED Imm-1, 1910.

Patented Man?, 1911.

FFC.

MATTI-IEW CLARKE, OF WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLIN OMETER.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTI-mw CLARKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at llVilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful improvement in Clinometers, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe present invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in clinometers, and the object of the invention is to produce an improved device of this character by means of which the pitch of timb-er chutes, coal breakers, or other inclined parts may be accurately and conveniently ascertained.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved clinometer which is thoroughly reliable and efficient in use, which is simple and durable in construction, and which is susceptible of being compa-ctly folded for use as an ordinary level.

With these and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved instrument folded, the leveling member being indicated in dotted lines in open position; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the device; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. et is a transverse section on the line -Ll of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

My improved clinometer consists essentially of a stock or body member 1 that is preferably formed of wood and is inclosed at its ends by metallic caps 2. For convenience, a spirit level 3 is provided in proximity to one end of the stock, and is arranged for use when the stock is in an upright position to indicate whether the same is in or out of plumb. Midway between its ends, the stock is cut-away in one edge to constitute a seating recess 4- within -which a leveling member 5 is adapted to be received. A face plate 6 is secured to the outer edge of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 17, 1910.

Patented ltar. 7, 1911.

Serial No. 544,517.

leveling member and is formed with a sight opening T through which a spirit level 8 is visible. The level is mounted within a recess 9 in the outer edge of the member 5 and is protected by semi-circular plates 10 secured to the sides of the leveling member.

Pairs of wear plates 11 and 11l are countersunk in the sides of the stock and project beyond the walls of the seating recess and overlap the end portions of the leveling member to prevent any lateral movement of said member relative to the stock. A pivot pin 12 extends between the overlapping portions of the wear plates 11 and is encircled by a tubular sleeve 13 formed by bending one end of the face plate 6. A hinge joint is thus established so as to enable the leveling member to be swung out of the recess and into different angular relations to the stock. The other end of the face plate 6 projects beyond the free end of the leveling member and constitutes a lip 1&1-, which, in the folded position of the leveling member, overlaps the adjacent edge of the stock and is countersunk in a rabbeted portion 15 provided in said edge. The lip has a slot 16 in which operates a spring tongue 17 that is fixed to the extremity of the leveling member, the tongue being' formed below the lip with an aperture designed to receive a tooth or lug 19 outstanding from a plate 20 that is secured to the adjacent end wall of the seating recess. rlhe tongue co-acts with the lug to constitute a catch fo-r normally retaining the leveling member in folded posit-ion within the seating recess. The free end of the tongue projects from the lip to constitute a finger piece, through t-he medium of which the catch may be conveniently released as the case may require. l/iforking in the lower edge of the leveling member, is a regulating screw 21 that impinges against the bottom wall of the recess and enables the leveling member to be raised or lowered by means of a screw driver, in order to cause the face plate 6 to lie exactly flush with the adjacent edge of the stock in the closed position of the parts.

The angular relation between the two parts of the clinometer is indicated on an arcuate scale arm 22 which is pivoted at one end to the stock and is slidable freely through a transverse opening 23 in the leveling member. A set screw 24 works in the leveling member and is adapted to be projected into the transverse opening to impinge against the arm and bind the leveling member in any desired adjusted position thereon. One side of the arm is laid o in degrees, while the other side is graduated in inches and fractions thereof, it being, of course, understood that any other suitable graduations may be employed, if desired. The arm is adapted to be withdrawn from the transverse opening 23 and to be folded within the seating recess 4. lVhen the instrument is closed, the arm is received in matching openings or slots 25 and 26 that are formed respectively, in the adjacent edges of the leveling member and stock (see Fig. 2). In this position, the arm is covered by the leveling member and is entirely inclosed so as to be hidden from view and to be effectually housed.

In the practical use of the invention the stock l is placed flat against the timber chute or other inclined object. The member 5 is then swung upwardly and placed in a hori- Zontal position with the aid of the spirit level S. The pitch of the object is indicated on the graduated arm 22 by the lower edge of the leveling member, it being here noted that the scale starts from the bottom of the leveling member when the same is closed. It will be seen that the clinometer is quite reliable and accurate and is susceptible to general use. The construction is quite simple and permits the instrument to be easily and cheaply manufactured.

When the device is folded, it may be used as an ordinary level inasmuch as there are no projecting parts to interfere with such use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A clinometer including a stock formed in one edge with a seating recess extending foldable within the recess, a level carried by the member, a plate secured to the outer face` of the member and projecting beyond the free end thereof and formed with a slot, a sp-ring tongue fixed to the free end of the member and extending outwardly through the slot to provide a finger piece, and means mounted within the recess for engaging with the tongue to retain the member in folded position.

3. A clinometer including a stock formed with a seating recess, a leveling member received within the recess, a level carried by the member, a pivot pin secured in the stock, a. plate secured to the outer face of the member and bent at one end of said member around the pivot pin to provide a hinge joint, the plate projecting beyond the other end of the member and being formed with a slot, a spring tongue attached to the free end of the member and extending outwardly through the slot, and means mounted within the recess for engaging with the tongue to retain the member in the recess against pivotal movement.

MATTHEW CLARKE. lVitnesses PATE. P. MANGAN, F. U. VALTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of atcnts, Washington, D. C. 

